ALL POINTS YACHT SALES
Buying a boat can be a thrilling and intimidating experience. With so many options on the market, it’s easy for first-time buyers to get bogged down in details without having the most important questions sorted out. Luckily the seasoned team at All Points Yacht Sales is here to help every boater find their craft. Owner and broker Rose Ann Points sat down and answered our list of the best questions to ask yourself before you commit to the most fun purchase of your life!
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING FOR A BOAT?
Prospective boat owners need to really take a hard look at what they want the next five years of boating to look like. How often will you go out, where do you want to boat, what’s the water depth in my dream ports, and how many people will regularly be on board? You don’t want to invest in a huge bluewater cruiser if it’s just you sailing the Intracoastal on the weekends. Conversely, if a couple is only a couple of years from retirement and planning on cruising the world, a day-sailor isn’t practical. The answers to these questions will dictate the best boat for you.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE BOAT I’LL NEED?
This is a real open question. It’s all about understanding the comfort level of everyone staying on the vessel. Some people are comfortable on a 26-foot cabin cruiser while others require something over 50 feet. If you are sailing with a partner and the vessel isn’t comfortable enough for them, it will be difficult for that individual to be as excited about the dream as the other folks. Obviously, it isn’t always possible to get everything that you would have in a house and there are adjustments that are required by all. But you should look around and consider what you need to feel comfortable: hot and cold water, stove, oven, refrigeration, air conditioning, heater, microwave, generator, solar, personal space and the list can go on and on. All of these things require space. You need to know what everyone’s deal-breakers are to come to a happy compromise.
SHOULD I GET A MONOHULL OR A MULTIHULL?
The best way to decide is to try them out! You may think you’re in love with a certain boat and just a few hours on board can completely change that. Some people are dead-set on a certain type of boat and that’s fine. Others may need to really sit and think about what their boating life will really look like and then decide what vessel fits that picture. I would strongly encourage prospective buyers to try out the vessel or a similar one by renting or chartering.
THERE ARE SO MANY FANCY ACCESSORIES! WHICH ARE MOST IMPORTANT?
I would say location, location, location! Where are you planning to go? As a cruiser myself, electronics such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) to navigate, tri-data and autopilot are all important to me. I consider them a must-have for most boaters. If you are going to cross major bodies of water, such as the Gulf or any ocean, I would highly recommend an Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) transponder. In an emergency, they are designed to provide critical information about your boat to other ships and to coastal authorities automatically. Radar would also be a great option. If your goal is to stay on the hook (anchored) for a long time, then you might want to think about having solar.
HOW MUCH CAN I EXPECT TO SPEND ON MAINTENANCE?
This can range depending upon many things, but the age of the vessel is a big consideration – obviously the older the vessel, the more repairs will need to be done. Other items to consider are marina slip or storage fees, waxing the vessel, monthly bottom cleans and general repairs. For a good estimate, plan on about 10% of the vessel’s value.
WHAT OTHER EXPENSES DO I NEED TO CONSIDER?
Insurance is becoming more difficult to obtain. From my observation, if you have substantial boating experience in a particular size vessel, they will insure up to an additional 10 feet without much question as long as it is under 50 feet. However, if you have experience with a 30-foot and want to go to a 49-foot, insurers generally ask for additional training to be signed off by a licensed captain/instructor. Some carriers even require a licensed captain to be on board every time the vessel leaves the dock.
DO I NEED TO GET AN INSPECTION?
I would recommend anyone purchasing a used vessel always get a marine survey both in and out of the water completed prior to purchase.
DO YOU SELL NEW BOATS AND/OR GENTLY USED BOATS?
Yes, we have access to new and used – both power and sailing vessels.
IS THERE SOMEWHERE I CAN LEARN HOW TO HANDLE MY BOAT?
St. Augustine Sailing is an American Sailing Award-Winning Affiliate sailing school. They offer lessons on their fleet of vessels or can provide instruction on your own vessel.
All Points Yacht Sales is a division of St. Augustine Sailing. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned cruiser, we are here to provide professional and pleasant guidance to help make your dreams a reality. We offer high-quality yacht brokerage services for power boats and sailboats. View available inventory online here or call our office at 904-829-0648.
WHAT SERVICES DO ALL POINTS YACHT SALES OFFER?
APYS can act as a listing broker or buying agent. We can provide sold comps, a fair market value cost for the vessel and assist in walking either the seller or buyer through the process, including the paperwork. We partner with several financing companies that specialize in marine lending. Some of the programs start with as little as 10% down.
WHAT KINDS OF BOATS DO YOU SELL?
We offer our service to customers who want power or sail. We also provide fractional ownership programs for vessels over 50 feet. If you are looking for ways to purchase a vessel, but offset the cost a bit, we have programs to assist with that type of purchase as well.
